Super Eagles must win 4 games: Can Chelle rescue Nigeria’s AFCON 2027 campaign?

Nigeria’s Super Eagles face a defining moment in their bid to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations to be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

The three-time African champions have started their qualifying campaign with far less conviction than they would have liked. Eric Chelle and his men are in dire need of a strong response after winning one and losing one of their first two qualifiers.

The Super Eagles opened their Group L adventure with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo on September 25, thanks to goals from George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor.

Four days later, however, Chelle’s side showed the fight of an under-funded local academy as they suffered a damaging 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau.

It was Nigeria’s worst defeat in AFCON qualifying history, which left the Super Eagles with only three points from their opening two matches.

Super Eagles’ AFCON 2027 qualification position

Guinea-Bissau lead Group L with six points from two matches, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles sit second with three points. Madagascar and Tanzania have one point each, leaving Chelle fully aware there’s little room now for further mistakes.

Tanzania occupy a special position in the group because they are co-hosts of AFCON 2027 and have already secured automatic qualification. This means only one of the remaining three nations in Group L will join Tanzania at the tournament.

Nigeria have four matches left, beginning with a home game against Tanzania on November 11, followed by the return fixture away on November 15. They will then face Madagascar away and Guinea-Bissau at home in March 2027.

Winning all four remaining matches would take the Super Eagles to 15 points and give them a strong chance of finishing above their rivals. However, it would not mathematically guarantee top spot if Guinea-Bissau also win their remaining fixtures.

The Super Eagles must therefore target maximum points while improving their goal difference, especially in the return leg against Guinea-Bissau.

Ikpeba urges Chelle to drop established stars

Interestingly, the Super Eagles still have two away matches on their schedule and avoiding the Guinea-Bissau disaster will be paramount on Eric Chelle’s mind.

The Malian tactician has now been offered a radical solution for that particular problem.

Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba believes the coach must reconsider his selection if Nigeria are to overcome difficult away conditions and recover from the setback.

Ikpeba is not impressed by the Super Eagles excuse that the poor condition of the playing pitch in Bissau discouraged Chelle’s men from giving their best on the day.

“Eric Chelle ought to look for other players for his team,” Ikpeba told SCORENigeria.

“He should call off the bluff of the so-called big stars and begin to work with his plan B players, who are ready to fight for him.

“The players today have been over pampered even though many of them need Nigeria more than their clubs.

“They appear to be a good tournament team, but when they have to play home and away in Africa, where some of the local conditions are tough like was the case in Guinea-Bissau, they struggle.”

For Nigeria to win their remaining four games, the Super Eagles must improve their away form and get maximum points in Madagascar and Tanzania.

While dumping the team’s big stars may be taking the sweep too far, Chelle must get his team to improve defensive organisation, intensity and ability to manage away matches without sacrificing their attacking quality.

It is nearly ten years since Nigeria last missed out on participating at Africa’s biggest football party. A repeat of such calamity will most certainly cost Chelle his job.